‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s personal wants were few. He worked late and early. Two simple meals a day sufficed Him. His wardrobe consisted of a very few garments of inexpensive material. He could not bear to live in luxury while others were in want. He had a great love for children, for flowers, and for the beauties of nature.

~ Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha’u'llah and the New Era, p. 57

Abdu’l-Baha seems to have been a very simple man but entrusted with a sever responsibility to carry forth the message of his father’s message from God.  I very much appreciate this passage that illustrates how he was able to live with such basic means.  No extravagant meals or clothes were necessary for someone who knew the poverty that others must live in.  He had many followers and was greatly respected.  Anything he could have wished for in his personal life would have been provided, yet the things he most wished for–the end of prejudices, universal education for all, religious tolerance–were not to be seen.

When the light of Bahá’u'lláh dawned from the East, He proclaimed the promise of the oneness of humanity. He addressed all mankind saying: “Ye are all fruits of one tree. There are not two trees, one a tree of divine mercy, the other a tree of Satan.” … Therefore we must exercise the utmost love toward one another. We must not consider any people the people of Satan, but know and recognize all as servants of one God. At most it is this: some do not know, they must be guided and trained. … Some are ignorant, they must be informed. Some are as children, they must be helped to reach maturity. Some are ailing, their moral condition is bad, they must be treated until their morals are purified. But the sick man is not to be hated because he is sick; the child must not be shunned because he is a child, the ignorant one is not to be despised because he lacks knowledge. They must be treated, educated, trained and assisted in love. Everything must be done in order that all humanity may live under the shadow of God in the utmost security, in happiness of the highest type.

~ Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha’u'llah and the New Era, p. 159

Esslemont was (posthumously) appointed as the first Hand of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi and wrote an excellent book to introduce the Faith.  This passage from that book should remind us all that we come from the same God.  Some may not have heard of Baha’u’llah or may not be ready to accept his station as the Manifestation of God for this era.  Just like a child matures in his thinking as he grows older and gains an education, he will progress in his spiritual maturity by becoming more educated about the oneness of humanity.